Hearings focus on missile defense site in Maine

RANGELEY, Maine (AP) - Pentagon officials are coming to Maine this week to discuss a proposal to build a missile defense site.

The Missile Defense Agency is considering four locations in the eastern U.S. for a missile shield system that's supposed to protect Americans from attacks by "rogue states" like North Korea and Iran.

There are currently two West Coast locations.

The Portland Press Herald says the former Loring Air Force Base in Maine was cut from consideration. But Navy property near Rangeley is still in the running, along with Fort Drum in northern New York; Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center in Ohio; and Fort Custer CTC in Michigan.

Meetings are scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday in Rangeley and Thursday in Farmington. Hearings are scheduled the following two weeks in Michigan and New York.